A Lee County man is accused of beating a baby to death inside a Fort Myers home on Thanksgiving Day.

Rafael Carrion, 27, was arrested on Thursday and made his first appearance in court Friday morning.

Lee County Sheriff's deputies responded to 4944 N. Galaxy Drive in reference to an infant not breathing around 3 a.m. Thursday. When deputies and EMS arrived, they attempted to save the eight-month-old Julian Valdez. The infant was taken to Gulf Coast Hospital, where he later died.

Carrion was Valdez's babysitter. He quickly became a suspect after being interviewed by detectives.

The Medical Examiner's Officer conducted an autopsy on Valdez. The autopsy results revealed massive head injuries consistent with a violent beating -- which Carrion could not explain. Carrion was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and aggravated manslaughter of a child.

In court on Friday, the public defender asked Carrion not to speak to anyone about the case. The public defender asked the judge for a reasonable bond, but said Carrion is a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Carrion's bond was set at $300,000 for each count. The judge also told Carrion he cannot have contact with the baby's mother, Amanda Ortiz, or her other children.

Ortiz also went before a judge to discuss the custody of her two other sons. A judge ordered Ortiz's boys to be placed in foster care with supervised visitations two times a week.

Ortiz was visibly upset and told the judge the boy's father, Leonard Valdez, is in jail. The two will be in court on Monday to see if their family members can take care of the boys.

Ortiz and her family rushed out of the courtroom.

Carrion's father: He is no animal

Rafael Carrion Sr. said he couldn't bear the sight of his son in court and stayed home. Carrion, Sr. also can't believe what his son's public defender called him.

"He says my son is an animal," said Carrion Sr. "He is no animal."

Carrion Sr. said his son called him on Thanksgiving when he found eight-month-old baby Julian Valdez not breathing.

"His friend was giving CPR and the baby was throwing up milk," he described. Carrion Sr. said his son went to great lengths to save the child.

He doesn't think the court should take his son's lengthy criminal past into account.

"That is not fair," Carrion Sr. said. "He has already paid for what he's done."

And Carrion Sr. believes Valdez's mother Amanda Ortiz should take more responsibility.

"If she is around she needs to be arrested too," he said. "She needs to pay for what happened to her kid, not my son. She is guilty too."

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